COLOMBIA EARTHQUAKE: RESCUERS RACE TO FIND SURVIVORS AS DEATH TOLL CLIMBS

Tue 11 August 2026:

Rescue teams in Colombia are continuing a desperate search for survivors after the country was struck by its strongest earthquake of the century, leaving at least 132 people dead and causing extensive destruction across several regions.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on Monday, with some of the worst damage reported in Cali and Pereira, while the western Choco region was also heavily affected. Soldiers, firefighters, emergency workers, volunteers and relatives worked through the night and into Tuesday, digging through collapsed buildings and listening for people trapped beneath concrete and rubble.

Authorities have warned that the death toll could increase as rescue teams reach remote and badly damaged communities.

In Cali, a city of around 2.2 million people located about 280 kilometres southwest of Bogota, dozens of people were killed. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only days ago, initially reported 35 deaths in the city. Buildings were destroyed or left dangerously unstable, forcing thousands of residents into the streets.

The neighbouring Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, reported at least 40 deaths, while authorities confirmed additional fatalities in Choco, Caldas and Antioquia.

The number of injured has also risen sharply. While an initial estimate put the number at 87, the president later said around 700 people had been injured in Valle del Cauca alone.

More than 1,600 buildings have reportedly been damaged or destroyed. Among them are parts of a historic cathedral in Manizales. In Cali, several upper floors of a hospital, including areas used for paediatric patients, collapsed. Some patients became trapped, while about 600 others had to be treated outside on streets covered with debris.

Authorities also faced uncertainty over the number of missing people. Citizen-run websites listed more than 2,700 people as potentially missing, although officials stressed that the figure did not necessarily represent confirmed missing persons.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

Rescue operations continue

President de la Espriella said finding people trapped under rubble was the government’s immediate priority. Around 1,000 security personnel were expected to be deployed to Cali following reports of looting, while nighttime curfews were introduced in several cities.

In Cali, civilians joined professional rescuers, forming human chains to remove bricks, concrete and other debris by hand. Teams repeatedly stopped their work to listen for voices or movement beneath collapsed structures.

Firefighters reported rescuing two women and two children from one collapsed building.

In Pereira, rescuers said they had established contact with a boy trapped beneath a bakery. Heavy machinery was brought in to remove unstable sections of damaged buildings while rescuers worked to reach him safely.

The Choco region presents an even greater challenge. Authorities have sent engineers, rescue workers and search dogs into the area, but its remote location makes access difficult. The community of San Jose del Palmar, identified by the US Geological Survey as the earthquake’s epicentre, is roughly 400 kilometres west of Bogota.

Much of Choco can only be reached by boat or aircraft, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the destruction and determine how many people may still need help.

Colombia’s Geological Service recorded 21 aftershocks by Monday evening and warned that additional tremors could occur.

Aid organisations said the earthquake struck an area that was already facing serious social and economic challenges. Camila Gomez of the International Rescue Committee said the disaster had created urgent needs for healthcare and education, with at least 50 educational facilities reportedly affected.

Colombia declares national emergency

The government has declared a national state of emergency and promised assistance to people whose homes were damaged, including rental subsidies.

Curfews were introduced in Cali, Armenia and Manizales, while additional police and military personnel were deployed in Cali because of concerns about looting.

Hospitals in five cities were placed on their highest alert. Airport operations were also temporarily suspended in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura so engineers could inspect runways and buildings for structural damage.

Ordinary Colombians have also played a major role in the response, providing food, water and other supplies while helping emergency teams search for survivors.

One volunteer in Cali, Carmen Yasmin Garcia, said her group had already helped rescue seven people from a collapsed building, but four others and a dog were still trapped. She urged more residents to bring basic tools and join the rescue effort.

The earthquake has also disrupted everyday life. The Petronio Alvarez Music Festival, a major annual cultural event in Cali scheduled to begin on Wednesday, was postponed, along with professional football matches.

International assistance

The international community has begun offering support.

The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency assistance for shelters, food and other relief efforts. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was monitoring the situation and was prepared to provide additional support.

The European Union activated its Copernicus satellite system to help authorities assess damage and support rescue operations.

El Salvador and Mexico also offered assistance. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said his country was prepared to send rescue teams, medical workers, paramedics and supplies if requested.

For Colombia, the earthquake has created an enormous emergency just days after a new government took office. With aftershocks continuing, remote communities still inaccessible and thousands potentially unaccounted for, rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors and determine the full scale of the disaster.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

__________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22